The traffic to the blog slows up over the Festive period, and it’s therefore something of an opportunity to take a bit of a breather.
Over a period of 26 days, I’ll be posting a single never previously featured on its own before – it might have sneaked in as part of an ICA or within a piece looking at various tracks – with the idea of an edited cut’n’paste from somewhere (most likely wiki) and then all the songs from either the vinyl or CD.
J is for Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile) released by Dexys Midnight Runners as a single in October 1982.
Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile) was written by Van Morrison and is the opening track of the album Saint Dominic’s Preview, released in 1972.
Dexys Midnight Runners were just over two years removed from the success of Geno and the album Searching For The Young Soul Rebels when seemingly out of the blue, and sporting a whole new look and sound, they had the big hit of the summer of 1982 with Come On Eileen. The new album, Too-Rye-Ay became an instant success, entering the charts at #2 in its first week of release at the beginning of August. Come On Eileen was still riding high and so there was no urgency for a follow-up 45, and it took until October before Mercury Records opted for the cover version as being the most suitable.
It also proved to be a huge hit, reaching #5 despite the fact that it, and its b-side, could both be found on the album.
mp3: Dexys Midnight Runners – Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)
There are maybe some hints that Kevin Rowland would have preferred that the b-side had been chosen as the single. Its name appears on the front of the picture sleeve, and its lyrics can be found on the reverse. I’m surely not alone in thinking that this is a far superior song to the cover:-
mp3: Dexys Midnight Runners – Let’s Make This Precious
This one can be heard, more weeks than not, blaring out pre-match at Stark’s Park in Kirkcaldy as one of the tunes that I choose, in my role as match day announcer, to play prior to kick-off. It’s an uplifting and rousing sort of number, one that always help with gradual build-up of the atmosphere.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Agreed that Let’s Make This Precious is the better song, though I like the rawer BBC version even better
You can’t go wrong with either track.
Great song. Their appearance on Top of The Pops to promote this song always makes me smile – Someone at the BBC thought the song was about Jockey Wilson the darts player so his face is on a screen behind the band…
Indeed, you are not alone. Let’s make This Precious is one of my favourite Dexys songs.